Mapeza’s shocking outburst and storming out of press room: Are journalists safe around him?

HARARE – On Wednesday, FC Platinum head coach Norman Mapeza made headlines for all the wrong reasons after verbally attacking a journalist during a post-match interview.

The incident has once again raised serious questions about the seasoned gaffer’s temper and respect for journalists.

The drama began when a journalist asked Mapeza a straightforward question, whether he was still “worried” about his team’s scoring form, an issue Mapeza himself had previously acknowledged during a pre-match interview two weeks ago.

Before the journalist could even finish, Mapeza interjected, denying he had ever used the word “worried” and accusing the reporter of “putting words in my mouth”.

In other news!!! pic.twitter.com/tGcZFCXWlA

— HON Job Wiwa Sikhala (@JobSikhala1) April 30, 2025

What followed was a finger pointing to the journalist, raised voice, dismissive remarks and calling the journalist “young man” in a professional setting, a clear sign of belittling and intimidating.

This uncalled-for behavior shocked many, especially coming from someone of Mapeza’s stature, a former Warriors coach and a player who once played in Europe for Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Furthermore, the situation escalated when Mapeza abruptly stormed out of the press room, dismissing the remaining journalists and declaring he would not attend future press conferences if the targeted journalist was present.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident as Mapeza has a troubling history of altercations with the media.

This is evident in a Sunday Mail article from a decade ago, headlined “No Norman, let journalists do their job”.

In the article, Mapeza is painted as a man with “bully tendencies,” who uses aggressive hand gestures and intimidating language to silence uncomfortable questions.

The incident in question involved the late veteran journalist Paul Saul Mundandi, whom Mapeza refused to engage with after the latter report about FC Platinum’s CAF Confederation Cup 5-1 loss to Tanzanian giants Young Africans did not sit well with the former Warriors coach.

The Sunday Mail article heavily criticised Mapeza’s uncalled for actions and disrespecting Mundandi.

“Normara has some bully tendencies and the way he uses hand gestures when talking unsettles many.

“That right hand, with its bracelet, is always raised during conversations and to the uninitiated that can be very, very unsettling.

“At Mandava last Saturday, the FC Platinum coach brought out the bully in him as he engaged in a verbal exchange with veteran journalist Paul Saul Mundandi.

“After watching his side salvage a barely deserved draw against a fired up Dongo Sawmill, the under pressure Mapeza refused to grant a post match interview to journalists in the presence of Mundandi.

“The FC Platinum coach did not take kindly to the journalist’s reportage of his expensively assembled team’s humiliation away to Tanzania’s Young Africans in the caf Confederations Cup two weeks ago,” read some of part of the article.

It continued: “Mapeza accused Mundandi of describing FC Platinum as useless after they got walloped 1-5.

“Now, Mapeza must be reminded that his antics were childish and uncalled for. The only people who are answerable to him are the FC Platinum players, the team’s backroom staff and his “wife”.

“He is not remotely qualified to lecture journalists on what to write and what not to write. Stick to the football business you know best Norman and leave journalism to the journalists.

“Such childish behaviour has no place in modern day society and the sooner you realise it the better.

“Yes, you can bar that female journalist from speaking to your players for reasons you best know but never ever fool yourself into believing you can control what journalists write about FC Platinum.

“Respect the journalists and they will respect you, treat them like crap and they will take you to the cleaners.

“I wonder what your employers said after such negative coverage of their company sponsored outfit.”

Meanwhile, ten years later Mapeza is still disrespecting journalists.

At this point, one has to ask: Are journalists safe around Norman Mapeza?